4 Sep 2009

Auckland head south without All Blacks

6:41 pm on 4 September 2009

Otago will have All Black squad members Adam Thomson and Tom Donnelly for Sunday's provinicial championship match but Auckland will be missing four current All Blacks..

Head coach Mark Anscombe says it's time for his players show they are

capable of performing without Joe Rokocoko, Jerome Kaino, Isia Toeava and John Afoa.

They've opted out ahead of next week's test against South Africa in Hamilton after playing in .

Auckland's two wins this season.

But after an encouraging performances from his other players in last weekend's 29-14 win over the previously unbeaten Bay of Plenty, Anscombe is confident his side has what it takes to win in Dunedin.